The Dolphins signed Moreno with the idea that he’d be their starting running back, but last year’s top runner in Miami, Lamar Miller, is still getting a lot of work with the first-string offense.

Moreno is coming off his best season, with 241 carries for 1,038 yards and 10 touchdowns last year in Denver. But it’s a lot easier to put up big numbers in Denver’s offense than it will be in Miami’s offense. The Dolphins need Moreno to be in tip-top shape, or else they may end up deciding that Miller remains their best option at running back.

Moreno is over-rated. He’s a smallish runner who lacks explosive playmaking ability. It’s hard to believe Denver used a first rounder on this guy in the same draft that they used a first rounder on Tebow.

“deadeye says:
Jun 3, 2014 7:07 AM
Moreno is over-rated. He’s a smallish runner who lacks explosive playmaking ability. It’s hard to believe Denver used a first rounder on this guy in the same draft that they used a first rounder on Tebow.”

Demaryius Thomas went the same year as Tebow. Knowshon was the same year as Robert Ayers. Either way, I don’t know how they only managed one good player out of 4 1st round picks across 2 years. Josh McDaniels was a complete failure as a head coach.

A running back can’t be judged well in non-contact drills. Fitness is a bit overrated as a likelihood of success. How many times have you heard “he lost 25 pounds in the off-season and is ready to really step it up this year” only to have said player actually perform worse.

Natural talent, knowing the playbook and desire to excel would in my estimation be a better gauge than whether a guy has six-pack abs.

bigredgoog says:
Jun 3, 2014 7:57 AM
A running back can’t be judged well in non-contact drills. Fitness is a bit overrated as a likelihood of success. How many times have you heard “he lost 25 pounds in the off-season and is ready to really step it up this year” only to have said player actually perform worse.

Natural talent, knowing the playbook and desire to excel would in my estimation be a better gauge than whether a guy has six-pack abs.

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If a head coach like Philbin says his “conditioning could be better” it means he is most likely getting gassed easily. For a RB, thats not a good thing. 16 games+ is a long season.

Seasoned veterans should get some time to relax & not have to be in tip top shape for otas – pres-season different story. I remember watching better football before any of this ota crap & fridge perry showed up to training camp – well, looking like a walk in freezer.

I think it is a bit of a concern. Late spring/early sumer in Florida? He could walk the length of the field at a slow pace and sweat off 10 pounds. It is still early though. If he makes it through a training camp in August and is still pudgy, then it’s a major concern.

As a Bronco fan, I would advise Dolphins fans not to worry too much about Moreno not being in shape. Even though he is not one of the most talented runners in the NFL, he is one of the hardest workers and he will always give you %100 effort on every play. I wish Denver could have brought him back in a relief role for Montee Ball.
He is also a top-tier blocker and catches the ball out of the backfield as good as anyone.
This was a good pick up for Miami, no matter what his conditioning is in June.

It seems as though Miami’s offseason tradition is to overspend on mediocre players. First Mike Wallace, who I said was mediocre last offseason but everyone said “Oh well he can run fast in a straight line!”

Now Moreno, whose production was clearly due to Peyton’s offense. In fact, every player on that Denver offense has inflated numbers. Any team expecting to grab a player and get the same production is stupid.

The only thing Moreno doesn’t lack is tears…
Did Miami actually think they were getting a star running back? Any runner that has ever played along side Manning has flourished being on the field with him and looked terrible the second he was gone… Reason: Defenses play the pass at all times against Manning, which gives the runner massive opportunity.

He had a great year, but that was much to do with Manning and the offense they were running. He still got those yards though. Can’t take them away. If he showed up to camp for his new team out of shape it’s probably because he made the Super Bowl and lost. It’s going to happen to more Broncos too.

McCoy looked good in a snowstorm, but was pedestrian when it counted against the Saints. I mean with the supposed best line in football? (according to Eagles fan…) Chips college offense will be slowed down this year. East and West plays don’t work in this league for long.

Dolphins fans seem very confused. One week they’re excited Bill Lazor will be running an offense similar to the Eagles but this week it won’t work in the NFL. FYI the Eagles go-to play is Inside Zone, McCoy is just good enough to bounce it outside if the defense over pursues. Watch some football once in a while.

he just isnt a good running back. he had mediocre stats every year until Peyton came to town and forced the safties 30 yds away.

this is why i dont understand why they did nothing to get a decemt back in free agency or the draft. Toby Gerhart was my pick. he signed a very small deal with Jax, has very low mileage and avg almost 5 yds a carry in the NFL. then they sit there on draft day and pass right by Jeremy Hill, Tre Mason, Seastrunk, etc.

it is a passing league now but you still need a quality RB, which i dont think we have.

The reason they brought Moreno in was for his pass blocking skill which all of Miami’s RB desperately lacked last year. I don’t expect Moreno to break a 1000 yards being that Miami does not have the passing offense that Denver has but I am hoping he could help improve the blocking of the RB.

Moreno is a beast when healthy. Best blocking running back in pass protection in the entire league. Top 5 pass catching back too. No, he’s not the best power back to run through the middle but he should be amazing for helping Tannehill develop.

“A running back can’t be judged well in non-contact drills. Fitness is a bit overrated as a likelihood of success. How many times have you heard “he lost 25 pounds in the off-season and is ready to really step it up this year” only to have said player actually perform worse.”

How many times have you heard someone looks a little big around the middle and out of shape and performed better?

I would think he’d be in shape after his signing. To me this sounds like an omen. And you would think he’d be going all out to impress his new bosses. It must have been solely for the money. Very disappointing.

Does anybody in the Dolphins organization have a plan? They keep grabbing individuals who had good years with other teams (that knew what they were doing) , toss the players on the field, and somehow expect everything to work itself out.

Mareno was brought in as a third down back on the cheap considering his performance last year. Summer in Miami is a whole lot different than Denver, so he will lose weight quickly in training camp. Even so, you would like to see a pro staying in shape over the off-season, but it likely won’t be an issue come September.

As for those bashing the fins o-line, your still living in last year. They’ve made some big changes if you haven’t been paying attention, including adding another pro bowler. Please, get some insight before making embarrassing comments.